Language Access & Translation

California hospitals are actively addressing the challenge of providing quality health care services to individuals with limited-English proficiency, as well as individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired. Hospitals recognize the importance of ensuring effective communication between medical providers and patients and their families.

California state law requires licensed general acute-care hospitals to implement policies to provide language assistance services to patients with language or communication barriers. In addition, federal law requires hospitals that receive federal financial assistance --such as Medicare, Medicaid, grant funds -- to take certain steps to ensure meaningful access to services for limited-English proficient individuals. The California Hospital Association has published a manual for health care providers that describes the details of the state and federal language assistance laws. For more information or to order the manual, please visit www.calhospital.org/consent.

California hospitals are actively addressing the challenge of
providing quality health care services to individuals with
limited-English proficiency, as well as individuals who are deaf
or hearing-impaired. Hospitals recognize the importance of
ensuring effective communication between medical providers and
patients and their families.

California state law requires licensed general acute-care
hospitals to implement policies to provide language assistance
services to patients with language or communication barriers. In
addition, federal law requires hospitals that receive federal
financial assistance –such as Medicare, Medicaid, grant funds –
to take certain steps to ensure meaningful access to services for
limited-English proficient individuals. The California Hospital
Association has published a manual for health care providers that
describes the details of the state and federal language
assistance laws. For more information or to order the manual,
please visit www.calhospital.org/consent.